The 2023 Minnesota field crop trials report has been published by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Visit varietytrials.umn.edu/2023 to see variety trials for eight different Minnesota crops.

Crops included in this year’s trial are barley, canola, corn grain, oats, soybeans, spring wheat, winter rye and winter wheat.

The U-MN field crop trials offer farmers unbiased and trustworthy information when they are ready to make seed choices. The annual trials are one of the key ways MAES works to bring valuable research into the hands of farmers and ultimately help improve farm profitability, the economy and overall quality of life in Minnesota.

Since the late 1880s, MAES has published reports of crop variety trials, but it wasn’t until 1948 that the trials were combined into a single annual publication. Today, the annual field crop trials are designed in-house and published online, and feature several crops that are trialed at multiple research and outreach centers and cooperating farmers’ fields across the state.

Minnesota Organic Conference

Registration is now open for the 2024 Minnesota Organic Conference. Minnesota’s only statewide conference on organic agriculture will take place Jan. 11-12 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.

Hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the event will feature keynote speakers and more than 30 breakout sessions providing educational opportunities in areas like organic crop production, dairy, livestock, fruits and vegetables, marketing, and business. Attendees will also have access to an 80-booth trade show featuring information about relevant products and services.

The keynote speakers for this year’s conference are Dr. Daphne Miller, a practicing family physician, science writer, professor and research scientist focused on transforming our food system from the soil up, and Carolyn Olson, an experienced organic farmer and agricultural advocate from Cottonwood, Minn.

Two-day, one-day and student registration options are available. Full pricing details can be found on the conference registration web page.

For more information, visit the MDA’s Minnesota Organic Conference website.

MN Ag Expo

The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association will jointly host the 2024 MN Ag Expo Jan. 17-18 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato.

Over the course of two days, the event will set your sights on the future by offering networking opportunities, educational sessions, a full trade show floor, dynamic speakers, fundraising events and more.

Visit the MN Ag Expo website for more information and to register.

MCIA annual meeting

Members of the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association will gather Jan. 24 at the Holiday Inn & Suites in St. Cloud for their annual meeting.

In addition to the MCIA annual business meeting and guest speakers, there will be an industry trade show and an awards luncheon with presentations of the Premier and Honorary Premier Seed Grower awards and the Achievement in Crop Improvement Award.

Free registration, due Jan. 3, includes the annual meeting with trade show, morning refreshments and the awards luncheon. Visit the annual meeting website for more information.

Minnesota Pork Congress

Minnesota Pork Congress is a swine-specific trade show and education event that features a wide variety of trade show exhibitors, timely seminars and social activities designed exclusively for pig farmers and pork industry stakeholders.

This event will take place Feb. 13-14 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato.

Visit the Pork Congress website for more information and to register.